Editorial Feedback

August 25, 2008

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

Re: "Landing field," Aug 4. The need for a 30,000-acre field seems far out of line. A carrier has approximately 2 acres of deck and is critical for a pilot's training. Put up against 30,000 acres is quite a bit of leeway. No wonder the objections from residents. Langley field acreage of about 800 acres and Monroe, 500, seems more in line.

Editor's response: The 30,000 acres isn't for the field itself, but for flyover buffers and especially to preserve what the Navy calls "fidelity" to practice night landings at sea. In other words, darkness. And within those 30,000 acres, many other land uses would remain possible, such as distribution centers with compatible lighting. The core field would be about 2,000 acres, with a runway of about 8,000 feet.